Method and system for increasing the safety in the boarding area and for optimizing usage of the capacity in transport means which comprise at least one locally fixed boarding area

ABSTRACT

The boarding area (A, B, C) of a transport means is divided into at least two gates (1, 2, 3), the maximum person capacity of which corresponds, respectively, to the maximum capacity of the largest transport device (9) that is accessible via the boarding area (A, B, C). Entrance into the gates (1, 2, 3) is effected via at least one separating device (4) connected with a control system (5) for the purpose of data communication. Entrance into each gate (1, 2, 3) is not possible once the number of persons in the gate (1, 2, 3) specified by the control system (5) for the current boarding operation is reached, or while the persons inside the gate (1, 2, 3) board the transport car. The number of persons in each gate (1, 2, 3) for the current boarding operation is determined by the control system (5) in dependence upon the transport demand in subsequent intermediate stations ahead of an end station, provided such intermediate stations are present, and of the free capacity of the arriving transport car (9). For the current boarding operation, the persons inside each gate (1, 2, 3) are assigned to the arriving transport car (9). When the number of persons inside the gate (1, 2, 3), as specified for the current boarding operation, has been reached, or when a timer which corresponds to a specified time window has expired and the transport car (9) arrives to which the persons currently in the gate (1, 2, 3) are assigned, the persons who are inside the gate (1, 2, 3) are requested to board and a counter for the number of persons in the gate (1, 2, 3) is set to zero.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for increasing the safety inthe boarding area and for optimizing usage of the capacity in transportmeans or system, which comprise at least one locally fixed boarding areafor the transport cars. Furthermore, the invention relates to a systemfor increasing the safety in the boarding area and for optimizing usageof the capacity in a transport means which comprises at least onelocally fixed boarding area.

It is known from the state of the art, with transport means comprisingat least one locally fixed boarding area such as for cable cars inskiing locations, to arrange the necessary access control devices infront of the boarding area, wherein the persons to be transported,following the check that they have access authorization, wait in theboarding area for the arrival of the transport cars in order to board.

However, this may lead to a loss in comfort, in particular during peaktimes, because many people are waiting inside a confined space.Disadvantageously this may also lead to accidents because too manypeople are in the vicinity of the arriving transport cars. Alsoaccidents may occur during boarding when a lot of people aresimultaneously trying to board the same transport car.

A further disadvantage consists in that, as a rule even at peak times,there are empty spaces in the transport car, because groups of peoplestanding directly in front of the door of the transport car want to staytogether so that the free seats available in the transport car are notsufficient to take all of them. In particular, with an indexingtransport means, the transport car moves on without having exhausted itscapacity.

Furthermore at peak times, such as in skiing areas, it may happen thatwith transport means having one or more intermediate stations betweenthe start and end stations, the waiting times for the passengers wantingto board at an intermediate station are very long because the arrivingtransport cars are fully occupied.

Moreover a great many human resources are required in order to monitorthe boarding areas, in particular at peak times, in order to interruptoperation of the transport means in case an accident or irregularityhappens during the boarding process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principal objective of the present invention is to provide a methodfor increasing safety in the boarding area and for optimizing usage ofthe capacity in transport means which comprises at least one locallyfixed boarding area, which method, when executed, has the effect ofavoiding the disadvantages known from the state of the art. A furtherobjective is to provide a system for increasing safety in the boardingarea and for optimizing usage of the capacity in transport means whichcomprises at least one locally fixed boarding area, and in particularfor carrying out the method according to the invention.

As used herein, the term “gate” is intended to mean a closed in area,similar to a “lock” or “sluice” for a water channel or canal, that hasopen-able barriers to regulate the flow or movement in and out of thegate. The term “transport means” is intended to mean any type of system,such as a train system or cable-car system, for transporting people fromone place to another. Such a transport means includes a plurality ofstations with boarding areas to embark and disembark, at least one“transport car,” such as a cable car, and tracks or cables and suchother infrastructure as is required for a transport system to function.

According to the present invention a method is proposed for increasingsafety in the boarding area and for optimizing usage of the capacity intransport means comprising at least one locally fixed boarding area,where the boarding area comprises at least two “gates”, the maximumpersonnel capacity of which respectively corresponds to the maximumcapacity of the largest transport car accessible via the boarding area;wherein entrance into the gates takes place, respectively, via at leastone separating device; wherein access to the gate is not possible oncethe number of persons specified for the current boarding operation inthe gate is reached or while the people currently inside the gate areboarding a transport car; wherein the specified number of persons insidethe gate is defined by a control system in dependence of the transportdemand in subsequent intermediate stations ahead of the end station, ifexisting, and of the free capacity of the arriving transport car; andwherein the persons inside a gate are assigned to an arriving transportcar.

The number of persons specified for the current boarding operation maycorrespond to the maximum capacity of persons of a gate, such as, whenthe arriving transport car has the same capacity and is empty and nointermediate station is provided ahead of the end station. In a casewhere the transport car are cable cars of a fun ride business or cablecars of a cable car system with a start station and an end stationwithout intermediate stations, the specified number of personscorresponds to the maximum capacity of persons of a gate, which in turncorresponds to the capacity of a cable car.

The number of persons currently inside a gate is detected via the atleast one separating device and forwarded to the control system,wherein, when the number of persons specified for the current boardingoperation in the gate is reached or when a specified timer correspondingto a specified time window has expired and a transport car is arriving,to which the persons currently inside the gate have been assigned, thepersons currently inside the gate are requested to board, and a counterfor the number of persons inside the gate is set to zero.

The area of the gates facing the boarding area is preferably open.Alternatively a suitable device such as a barrier connected with thecontrol system for the purpose of data communication may be provided inthe region of the gates facing the boarding area, which device whenoperated in opening direction allows access to a transport car, when thepersons inside the gate are requested to board. The call to board may beeffected via an indicating device and/or acoustically.

The separating devices, in terms of a further development of theinvention, may serve as access control devices for the transport means,whereby the operating and maintenance cost are reduced because there isno longer any need for separate access control devices.

Each of the gates comprises an indicating device facing the personsseeking access to the gates, which is connected with the control systemfor the purpose of data communication, which indicating device indicatesin real time the number of free spaces for the current boardingoperation relative to the specified number of persons inside the gate.Furthermore each of the gates comprises an indicating device facing thepersons seeking access to the gates, which is connected with the controlsystem for the purpose of data communication, which indicates whetherthere is a delay in starting the boarding operation or whether theboarding operation has started, wherein this information can, forexample, be indicated via pictograms or a traffic light. Alternativelyor in addition to the indication of the status of boarding this may beeffected via acoustic signals.

In terms of a further development each gate merely comprises anindicating device facing the persons inside the gate and seeking accessto the gates, which is connected with the control system for the purposeof data communication, which indicating device, on the one hand,indicates in real time the number of free spaces for the currentboarding operation relative to the specified number of persons insidethe gate and on the other, the status of the boarding operation (e.g.waiting/boarding).

Due to the information indicated on the indicating devices one canrecognise prior to admission, whether for example, there is sufficientspace for a family or group of persons to be transported together in oneof the next transport car, or whether they should let others pass andwait for admission into a further gate or into the same gate at a laterstage so that everyone can be transported together in the same transportcar. By making these assignments at a preliminary stage away from theboarding area, the search for a transport car becomes obsolete andstress is reduced. The method according to the invention leads to directstraight movement patterns in the boarding area and crossing trafficflows are avoided.

Preferably, each of the transport car has a different identificationnumber or other marking clearly visible to the persons in the boardingarea, wherein the passengers waiting in a gate are requested, via theindicating device and/or via acoustic signals, either to wait or toboard a transport car with a specified identification number.

The free capacity and arrival time of a transport car is evaluated inthe control system based on its identification number or other markingclearly visible to the persons in the boarding area and on the number ofpersons already in the transport car, which number is ascertained basedon the data of the separating devices of the gates for the boardingoperation into the transport car, in order to determine, in dependenceof the transport demand at subsequent intermediate stations ahead of theend station (provided intermediate stations exist) a gate and thespecified number of persons inside it, for a current boarding operationin a boarding area, and to assign the persons inside this gate to anarriving transport car.

In case at least one intermediate station exists apart from the a startstation and an end station, the number of persons waiting at the variousstations is ascertained prior to reaching the gates by means of devicesarranged in front of the gates for ascertaining the number of personswaiting for transport in front of the gates, which devices may e.g. alsoserve as access control devices or are realised as light barriers andwhich are connected with the control system for the purpose of datacommunication, so that the transport demand at individual stations isknown to the control system in real time.

With this arrangement the number of persons detected by these devicesand arriving in front of the gates of a boarding area and the number ofpersons detected by the separating devices of the gates of the boardingarea (which corresponds to the number of persons already transported orabout to be transported) serves as a basis for ascertaining the numberof persons waiting at the various stations prior to reaching the gates.This data is evaluated in real time in the control system together withthe status of all currently available free capacities of the transportmeans. Based on this data control of the gates at individual stations isoptimized, wherein due to the comprehensive detection of the passengerflows at all stations the load factor in individual transport car can beretrieved in real time.

As an alternative to ascertaining the number of arriving persons andcalculating the number of waiting persons on the basis of the arrivingand already transported persons, the number of persons waiting at thevarious stations can be ascertained in real time based on the evaluationof camera images.

According to the invention at least two gates per boarding area areprovided, wherein, the more gates are provided the more possibilitiesthere exist for the flexible control of the boarding operations. Forexample, for a specified time span one of the gates may be assigned topersons with children, to women, to trips to certain stations, to VIPsor as a fast lane.

The method according to the invention is suitable for use with eitherindexing or non-indexing transport means, for fun ride businesses or forlifts in high-rise buildings.

The system according to the invention for increasing safety in theboarding area and for optimizing usage of the capacities in transportmeans which comprise at least one locally fixed boarding area,comprises, in terms of a particularly advantageous embodiment, at leasttwo gates per boarding area of a transport car, via which entrance intothe transport car is possible and the maximum person capacity of whichrespectively corresponds to the maximum capacity of the largesttransport car accessible via the boarding area, wherein the gatescomprise at least one separating device connected with a control systemof the system according to the invention for the purpose of datacommunication, via which entrance into the gate is effected and whichdetects the current number of persons inside the gate and forwards thisto the control system. Entrance into the gate is not possible once thenumber of persons in the gate specified by the control system for thecurrent boarding operation has been reached, wherein each of the gatescomprises an indicating device connected with the control system for thepurpose of data communication, which indicates the number of free spacesfor the current boarding operation relative to the specified number ofpersons in a gate and the status of the boarding operation.

As already explained the separating devices of the system may also serveas access control devices for the transport means.

In cases where apart from a start station and an end station at leastone intermediate station exists, the transport means or system comprisesdevices connected with the control system for the purpose of datacommunication for ascertaining the number of persons waiting in front ofthe gates, which devices detect the number of persons arriving in frontthe gates, wherein, based on the number of arriving persons and thenumber of persons detected by the separating devices of the gates, whichnumber corresponds to the number of persons already transported or aboutto be transported, the control system ascertains in real time the numberof persons waiting at various stations prior to reaching the gates. Thedevices for ascertaining the number of persons waiting in front of thegates may be realised as access control devices, light barriers orcameras.

Due to the method and system according to the invention it is ensuredthat the limit on the number of persons inside the boarding area leadsto safe and comfortable boarding. In addition safety is increasedbecause the maximum number of persons who can dwell in the boarding areais regulated. This ensures that should people have to be evacuated, suchas in case of a fire the station can be evacuated quickly.

Furthermore the capacities of the transport means are optimally utilizedbecause the transport car each start with the optimized number ofpersons within a specified time window, taking account of the personswaiting for this transport car at the next station (if existing). Thisallows human resources required in the boarding area to be reduced, sothat there is available capacity for further activities. The methodaccording to the invention is characterized by a fully automaticapproach which due to the intuitive control of the passenger flowspermits a reduction in human resources to the prescribed minimum withouthaving to reduce the speed of a system in the case of an indexingtransport means.

For a full understanding of the present invention, reference should nowbe made to the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of the gates provided according to theinvention for the boarding area of three stations.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a gate according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of the layout of the boarding area A ofthe start station shown in FIG. 1 in the case of a cable car system forillustrating the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings. Identical elements in thevarious figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

According to the invention and referring to FIG. 1 the boarding area ofa transport means is divided into at least two gates, the maximum personcapacity of which corresponds to the maximum capacity of the largesttransport car, which can be boarded via the boarding area. In theexample shown in FIG. 1 three locally fixed boarding areas A, B, C areshown, which are associated with respectively different stations of thetransport means, wherein the boarding area A of the start station isdivided into three gates 1, 2, 3 and the boarding areas B, C of theintermediate stations are divided into two gates 1, 2, respectively.

Entrance into the gates 1, 2, 3 is effected via at least one separatingdevice 4 connected with a control system 5 such as a server for thepurpose of data communication, wherein entrance into the gate 1, 2, 3 isnot possible once the number of persons in the gate 1, 2, 3 specified bya control system 5 for the current boarding operation is reached orwhile the persons inside the gate 1, 2, 3 board a transport means.

In the example shown the gates 1, 2, 3 comprise an indicating device 6facing the persons inside the gate 1, 2, 3 respectively and connectedwith the separating devices 4 and the control system 5 for the purposeof data communication, which device indicates, in real time, the numberor free spaces for the current boarding operation relative to thespecified number of persons inside the gate 1, 2, 3. Furthermore theindicating device 6 indicates whether there is a wait until boarding cantake place or whether according to the signals of the control system 5the boarding operation has started, wherein this information and also arequest to board may be indicated by pictograms for example.

Each of the transport cars comprises a unique identification number orother marking visible to the persons in the gate area, wherein thepassengers waiting at a gate 1, 2, 3 are requested via the indicatingdevice 6 either to wait or to board a transport car with a specifiedidentification number.

Via the identification number or other marking and the number of personsin a transport car ascertained in the control system on the basis of thedata from the separating devices of the gates of the system, the freecapacity and the arrival time of a transport car can be used in thecontrol system 5, in order to, in dependence of the transport demand atsubsequent intermediate stations ahead of an end station, given thatintermediate stations exist, determine a gate 1, 2, 3 and the specifiednumber of persons inside it for a current boarding operation, and toassign the persons in this gate arriving transport car. The transportcars are connected with the control system for the purpose of datacommunication, so that their position, identification number and degreeof loading is known. Additional detecting techniques such as cameras orinfrared sensors can be 4-optionally integrated with individualtransport car for detecting the current overall status and supply realtime data to the control system 5.

According to the invention, as already explained, the number of personsinside a gate 1, 2, 3 specified for the current boarding operation isdetermined by the control system 5 using defined criteria in dependenceof the transport demand in subsequent intermediate stations ahead of theend station (given that intermediate stations exist as in the exampleshown) and of the free capacity of the arriving car, wherein the personsinside a gate 1, 2, 3 are assigned to an arriving transport cars for thecurrent boarding operation.

The control system 5 can determine the number of persons specified forthe current boarding operation for each respective gate 1, 2, 3 of theboarding areas A, B, C using various criteria. For example, given thecase that apart from a start station and an end station an intermediatestation exists, the number of persons waiting in the various stationscan be determined prior to reaching the gates 1, 2, 3 by means ofsuitable devices serving e.g. as access control devices or realised aslight barriers and connected with the control system 5 for the purposeof data communication, so that the transport demand at individualstations is known in the control system 5 in real time. The transportdemand and the free capacities can be used by the control system 5 todetermine, by means of corresponding algorithms, the number of personsspecified for the current boarding operation for each gate 1, 2, 3 ofthe boarding areas A, B, C. Various criteria, such as shortening of thewaiting time at one or at all intermediate stations, shortening of thewaiting time at the start station or shortening of the waiting time inthe station with the highest number of waiting persons etc. can beutilized.

The specified number of persons inside a gate 1, 2, 3 for the currentboarding operation may correspond to the maximum person capacity of agate, e.g. in a case when the arriving transport car has the samecapacity and is empty, and no intermediate station ahead of the endstation is provided or when there is no one waiting in the intermediatestation (if existing).

The current number of persons inside a gate 1, 2, 3 for the currentboarding operation is detected via the at least one separating device 4and forwarded to the control system 5, wherein, once the specifiednumber of persons inside the gate 1, 2, 3 for the current boardingoperation has been reached or a specified timer corresponding to aspecified time window has expired, and a transport car arrives which hasthe persons currently inside the gate 1, 2, 3 assigned to it, thepersons inside the gate 1, 2, 3 are requested to board via theindicating device 6 or optionally by acoustic signals, and a counter forthe number of persons inside the gate 1, 2, 3 is set to zero. The timerensures that in particular with an indexing transport means, operationis not disadvantageously affected.

In terms of further variants of the method it is possible to alter theassignment of the persons inside a gate to a transport car, if thenumber of persons specified for the current boarding operation in thisgate is not reached, but is reached in another gate of the boarding areaso that the free capacity of the transport car can be utilized.

For special needs such as wheelchair or pram transport operatingpersonnel is able to manually interrupt or override the program flow atindividual stations.

With reference to FIG. 2 the area 7 of a gate 1 of the system and methodaccording to the invention facing the boarding area is open.Alternatively a suitable device such as a barrier connected with thecontrol system 5 for the purpose of data communication may be providedin the region of the gates facing the boarding area, which device whenoperated in opening direction allows access to a transport car, when thepersons inside the gate are requested to board.

A preferred variant of the method according to the invention isillustrated with reference to FIG. 3. Here the boarding area of a startstation A of a cable car system with cable cars 9 is marked with thereference symbol A, and this is divided into three gates 1, 2, and 3.The gates 1, 2, 3 are realized as shown in the example of FIG. 2. Theyrespectively comprise at least one separating device connected with thecontrol system 5 for the purpose of data communication and respectivelyone indicating device facing the persons inside a gate 1, 2, 3. Theindicating device is connected with the separating devices and thecontrol system 5 for the purpose of data communication, which indicatesthe free spaces for the current boarding operation relative to thespecified number of persons waiting-inside the gate 1, 2, 3 and thestatus of the boarding operation. In FIG. 3 the passenger flows areindicated by arrows.

In the example shown access control devices 8 are provided in front ofthe gates 1, 2, 3, which are actuated in opening direction in case ofvalid access authorization, in order to allow these persons access, andvia which the number of waiting persons are ascertained prior toreaching the gates 1, 2, 3 in conjunction with the persons alreadytransported or about to be transported within the boarding area.

The access control devices 8 are connected with the control system 5 forthe purpose of data communication. Based on the number of valid accessauthorisations (corresponding to the number of arriving persons) and thenumber of persons detected by the separating devices of gates 1, 2, 3(corresponding to the number of persons already transported or about tobe transported), the number of persons waiting for transport in front ofthe gates 1, 2, 3 is known at any time.

If in terms of further embodiments the separating devices 4 are realisedas access control devices, further suitable devices for ascertaining thepersons waiting for transport in front of the gates 1, 2, 3, such aslight barriers or cameras may be used for ascertaining the number ofpersons waiting for transport in front of the gates 1, 2, 3, whichdetect the number of arriving persons and forward these numbers to thecontrol system 5.

The intermediate stations B′, C′ etc. are laid out analogously to theexample shown in FIG. 3, so that the control system 5 knows, in realtime, how many persons are waiting at which station, whereby the numberof persons specified for the current boarding operation for each gate ofthe boarding areas A, B, C can be determined in dependence of thetransport demand and the free capacities based on various criteria suchas shortening the waiting time at one or all intermediate stations,shortening the waiting time at the start station or shortening thewaiting time at the station with the highest number of waiting persons.

In the example shown three gates 1, 2, 3 are provided, wherein in termsof further developments four or more gates may be provided whichincreases the flexibility of the system.

There has thus been shown and described a novel method and system forincreasing the safety in a transport boarding area which fulfills allthe objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, modifications,variations and other uses and applications of the subject inventionwill, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art afterconsidering this specification and the accompanying drawings whichdisclose the preferred embodiments thereof. All such changes,modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do notdepart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to becovered by the invention, which is to be limited only by the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for increasing boarding area safety andoptimizing a usage capacity of a cable car system which comprises aplurality of cable cars and at least one station with a fixed boardingarea (A, B, C) at a start station, said method comprising: dividing theboarding area (A, B, C), via rails, into a plurality of separate gates(1, 2, 3), with each gate (1, 2, 3) defining a respective area (7) whichis confined by the rails and at least one respective separating device(4) but having an opening adjacent an end of the respective gate (1, 2,3), facing toward the cable cars, located at the boarding area (A, B,C), through which boarding passage to an assigned one of the cable carsis permitted, each respective gate (1, 2, 3) being able to accommodate amaximum person capacity which corresponds, respectively, to a maximumperson capacity of a largest one of the cable cars that is accessiblevia the boarding area (A, B, C); locating the at least one respectiveseparating device (4), before the respective area of each respectivegate (1, 2, 3), for controlling access of persons to the respective gate(1, 2, 3); only permitting entrance to each respective gate (1, 2, 3)via the respective at least one separating device that is coupled with acontrol system for purpose of data communication; detecting and sendingto the control system, via each respective at least one separatingdevice, a number of persons waiting in each of the respective gates;determining, by the control system depending upon a transport demand ofthe cable car system and a free capacity of each one of the cable cars,arriving at the boarding area (A, B, C), the number of persons in eachrespective gate that is specified for a current boarding operation; oncethe number of persons located within the respective gate, specified bythe control system, is reached or while the persons located within therespective gate are boarding the assigned one of the cable cars locatedat the boarding area (A, B, C), blocking entrance to the respective gate(1, 2, 3) via the respective at least one separating device; assigningthe persons currently located within each respective gate to one of thecable cars located at the boarding area (A, B, C) and requesting thepersons waiting within the respective gate to board the respectivelyassigned one of the cable cars located at the boarding area (A, B, C);and then setting a counter, for the number of persons located withineach respective gate, back to zero.
 2. The method according to claim 1,further comprising: evaluating the free capacity and an arrival time ofthe each one of the cable cars arriving at the boarding area (A, B, C)by the control system, by way of an identification number or othermarking clearly visible to the persons within the boarding area (A, B,C) and ascertaining a number of persons located inside each arrivingcable car, based on data of the respective at least one separatingdevice of the respective gates (1, 2, 3) for the current boardingoperation into the cable car; and determining a specified number ofpersons in each of said gates for the current boarding operation in theboarding area (A, B, C) and assigning the persons in this gate (1, 2, 3)to one of the cable cars located at the boarding area (A, B, C), independence upon the transport demand in any subsequent intermediatestation located before an end station of the cable car system.
 3. Themethod according to claim 2, further comprising: indicating in real timea number of free spaces for the current boarding operation relative tothe specified number of persons in each respective gate (1, 2, 3)together with a status of the current boarding operation, on anindicating device, oriented to face the persons seeking admission to therespective gate (1, 2, 3) and the persons waiting within the respectivegates (1, 2, 3), and coupling the indicating device for datacommunication with the control system.
 4. The method according to claim1, wherein an intermediate station is present in the cable car systemtogether with the start station and an end station, the method furthercomprising: ascertaining a number of persons waiting at at least onestation's boarding areas prior to the persons reaching each of therespective gates (1, 2, 3) by devices for ascertaining the number ofpersons waiting for transport in front of the respective gates (1, 2, 3)at that the at least one station, which devices are coupled with thecontrol system for data communication, such that a transport demand ateach individual station is known to the control system in real time. 5.The method according to claim 4, wherein the number persons waiting atvarious stations is ascertained prior to the persons reaching therespective gates (1, 2, 3), by the devices for ascertaining the numberof persons waiting for transport in front of the respective gates (1, 2,3), the number of persons arriving at the respective gates (1, 2, 3) andthe number of persons detected by the respective at least one separatingdevice of the respective gates (1 2, 3), which correspond to the numberof persons already transported and about to be transported.
 6. Themethod according to claim 4, further comprising ascertaining the numberof persons waiting at the intermediate station, the start station andthe end station prior to reaching the gates by evaluating camera images.7. The method according to claim 4, further comprising determining thenumber of persons specified for the current boarding operation for eachone of the respective gates (1, 2, 3) of the boarding areas (A, B, C) independence upon the transport demand in each subsequent intermediatestation located before the end station of the cable car system and saidfree capacity of each arriving cable car, based upon criteria includingat least one of (i) shortening a waiting time at at least oneintermediate station, (ii) shortening a waiting time in the startstation, and (iii) shortening a waiting time in a station with amajority of waiting persons.
 8. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising using at least one access control device (8), for determiningvalid access authorization of each person attempting to board one of thecable cars, located at the boarding area (A, B, C), prior to such persongaining access to any one of the plurality of gates (1, 2, 3).
 9. Acable car system for increasing a boarding area safety and optimizing ausage of capacity in cable cars and at least one station with a locallyfixed boarding area (A, B, C), said cable car system comprising, incombination: an electronic control system; rails for dividing thelocally fixed boarding area (A, B, C) into a plurality of separate gates(1, 2, 3) through which loading to an assigned one of an arriving cablecar is permitted, each of the plurality of separate gates (1, 2, 3)having an area being defined by the rails and at least one respectiveseparating device (4) so that each one of the respective areas of therespective gates (1, 2, 3) having an opening, adjacent an end of therespective gate (1, 2, 3) facing the cable cars located at the boardingarea (A, B, C), through which boarding passage to the assigned one ofthe cable cars is permitted, each respective area of each respectivegate (1, 2, 3) being size so as to accommodate a maximum person capacitywhich corresponds, respectively, to a maximum capacity of a largest oneof the cable cars that is accessible via the boarding area (A, B, C),wherein each of said at least one separating devices being coupled withthe control system for data communication, and the at least oneseparating devices determining and forwarding to the control system acurrent number of persons waiting at each of the respective areas of therespective gates (1, 2, 3); at least one of the respective separatingdevices (4) being located at an entrance into each respective gate (1,2, 3) for controlling entry and access of persons to the respective gate(1, 2, 3); once a number of persons located inside each respective gate(1, 2, 3), specified by the control system for a current boardingoperation, is reached, the respective at least one separating devicepreventing further access by any person to the respective gate (1, 2,3); and each of the respective gates (1, 2, 3) comprises an indicatingdevice, coupled with the control system for data communication, forindicating a number of free spaces specified for the current boardingoperation relative to the specified number of persons in each respectivegate (1, 2, 3) and a status of the boarding operation.
 10. The cable carsystem according to claim 9, wherein each of the respective at least oneseparating devices also serve as access control devices for the cablecar system.
 11. The cable car system according to claim 9, wherein, atleast one intermediate station, apart from a start station and an endstation, is present, the cable car system further comprises devices,coupled with the control system for the purpose of data communication,for ascertaining a number of persons waiting in front of each gate (1,2, 3), which devices detect a number of persons arriving in front ofeach gate (1, 2, 3); and, based on the number of arriving persons andthe number of persons detected by the respective separating devices ofthe respective gates (1, 2, 3), which corresponds to a number of personsalready transported or about to be transported, the number of personswaiting at various stations is transmitted to the control system priorto the assigned one of the arriving cable car reaching the respectivegates (1, 2, 3).
 12. The cable car system according to claim 11, whereinthe devices for ascertaining the number of persons waiting at each ofthe respective gates (1, 2, 3) are selected from the group consisting ofaccess control devices, light barriers and cameras.
 13. The cable carsystem according to claim 9, wherein the respective indicating device islocated above the opening adjacent the end of each of the respectivegates (1, 2, 3) facing toward the arriving cable cars located at theboarding area (A, B, C).
 14. The cable car system according to claim 9,further comprising a device, coupled with the control system for datacommunication, which, when actuated in an opening direction, allowsaccess to the assigned cable car, when the persons in each respectivegate (1, 2, 3) are requested to board.
 15. The cable car systemaccording to claim 9, further comprising at least one access controldevice (8), for determining valid access authorization of each personattempting to board one of the cable cars, located at the boarding area(A, B, C), prior to each such person gaining access to any one of theplurality of gates (1, 2, 3).
 16. The cable car system according toclaim 9, wherein each respective indicating device, during operation,assigning the persons currently located within the respective gate toone of the cable cars located at the boarding area (A, B, C) andrequesting the persons waiting within the respective gate to board therespectively assigned arriving cable car; and following boarding, acounter, for the number of persons located inside each respective gate,being set back to zero.
 17. A cable car system for increasing a boardingarea safety and optimizing a usage of capacity in cable cars for atleast one station having a fixed boarding area, the cable car systemcomprising: a control system; a plurality of rails dividing the boardingarea into a plurality of separate gates, with each separate gatedefining a respective waiting area which is confined by the rails and atleast one respective separating device but each respective waiting areahaving an opening, adjacent an end of the respective gate facing towardthe cable cars, located at the boarding area (A, B, C), through whichboarding passage to an assigned one of the cable cars, located at theboarding area (A, B, C), being permitted, each respective waiting areaof each respective gate being size so as to accommodate a maximum personcapacity which corresponds, respectively, to a maximum person capacityof a largest one of the cable cars that is accessible via the boardingarea; the at least one respective separating device being located beforethe respective waiting area of the respective gate for controllingaccess of persons to the respective gate; entrance to each respectivegate being controlled via the respective at least one separating devicethat is coupled with the control system for data communication; eachrespective at least one separating device detects and sends to thecontrol system a number of persons waiting at the respective gate; thecontrol system, depending upon a transport demand of the cable carsystem and a free capacity of each one of the cable cars arriving at theboarding area (A, B, C), determining the number of persons in eachrespective gate that is specified for a current boarding operation; oncethe number of persons located within the respective gate, specified bythe control system, is reached or while the persons located within therespective gate are boarding the assigned one of the cable cars, locatedat the boarding area (A, B, C), the respective at least one separatingdevice blocking entrance to the respective gate; assigning the personscurrently located within each respective gate to one of the cable carslocated at the boarding area (A, B, C) and requesting the personswaiting within the respective gate to board the respectively assignedone of the cable cars; and following boarding, a counter, for the numberof persons located within each respective gate, is set back to zero.